Hamshire man fought for the country that threw his father in jail

Jose D. Enriquez II, Beaumont Enterprise

By Jose D. Enriquez III

Published 10:30 am, Friday, December 27, 2013

Tsutomu (Tommie) Okabayashi, poses for a portrait with his copy of the Congressional Gold Medal, Okabayashi is one of a group of Japanese American World War II veterans scheduled to participate in an event in New Orleans that recognizes these vets Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, in Houston. The Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2011 to Japanese American World War II veterans in recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments will kick start its tour across the country on January 12th, beginning with the National World War II Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, in New Orleans.
( James Nielsen / Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

Tsutomu (Tommie) Okabayashi, poses for a portrait with his copy of...

Tsutomu (Tommie) Okabayashi, poses for a portrait with his copy of the Congressional Gold Medal, Okabayashi is one of a group of Japanese American World War II veterans scheduled to participate in an event in New Orleans that recognizes these vets Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, in Houston. The Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2011 to Japanese American World War II veterans in recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments will kick start its tour across the country on January 12th, beginning with the National World War II Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, in New Orleans.
( James Nielsen / Chronicle )
Photo: James Nielsen, Staff

In 1943, Tommie Okabayashi, 18, stood on a Houston train platform hours after enlisting in the U.S. Army, waiting for the train car to take him away to Fort Sam Houston for boot camp.

More than doing what he believed was his duty to serve his country, Okabayashi had something else to prove. Although he was of Japanese descent, he was an American and he felt no loyalty to a country more than 6,500 miles from his home.

The 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor increased tensions between Japanese-Americans and their fellow citizens.

In Houston, Hamshire native Tommie Okabayashi watched as his father, among thousands of Japanese-Americans, was plucked from his home and thrown into jail.

Okabayashi's late sister, Midori Omishi, told family members later that a male from each Japanese-American family in Houston was picked up by the Department of Justice and questioned about their loyalty to the American government.

They were looking for community leaders, daughter-in-law Mari Okabayashi recalled Omishi saying, and only released someone after a Caucasian vouched for their loyalty.

Okabayashi's father spent three months in Trinity, Texas, before he was released.

At that tumultuous time in the country's history, Okabayashi was inspired to join the ranks of young men going off to war.

During the war, Okabayashi - called "Tex" because of his accent - was a mechanic and driver in the cannon company of the 442nd Battalion, which included other Japanese-Americans.

Overseas, Okabayashi didn't face the same hate-mongering his brothers experienced in Texas.

"(We) got overseas, and everyone was a soldier," he said. "It made no difference what color you were."

More than seven decades later, he and other Nisei - Japanese-American - soldiers would get the honor they deserved.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a bill honoring Tommie Okabayashi, 88, of Houston, and thousands of Japanese-American soldiers who fought valiantly in World War II.

Of about 10 living members of the units, about five live in Houston, including Okabayashi.

Besides the Congressional Gold Medal, Okabayashi received a good conduct medal, awards for service and a bronze star for courage and action above and beyond the call of duty on his first day of active duty in Italy, where he helped a sergeant, injured by heavy artillery fire, escape to safety.

Remembering the war

Although it has been 67 years since he served, Okabayashi especially remembers two moments:

In the Vosges Mountains, the 442nd and 141st Texas Regiment were both part of the 36th Division. They fought in Eastern France near the German border.

Coming off 10 days of liberating Bruyeres and Biffontaine in France, the Nisei (Japanese-American soldiers) only got a few moments of rest and hot food before receiving notice of a trapped unit.

Germans had surrounded the 141st Texas Regiment, more than 200 Texans, about four miles beyond friendly lines.

Low on food, water and ammo, the 442nd drove in to save them.

Among the Nisei was Okabayashi. It took days of combat before the 442nd broke through to the "Lost Battalion."

Although the Nisei infantry in Companies B, I and K were the first to arrive, the entire 442nd helped, aiding units with six short-range artillery.

While most of the Texas National Guard was retrieved, the 442nd suffered almost 50 percent casualties.

The sound of a motor running caught Okabayashi's attention shortly after his shift began. They were stationed, he said, somewhere between Italy and France.

It was odd, he said, because nothing should have been around them.

"I saw a boat coming out to the inlet, headed toward Italy," he said. "I walked into the operations station and told my officer, 'Hey, there's a boat out there (in the Mediterranean Sea).'"

The boat turned around and started to head back after Okabayashi's unit fired several warning shots near the German boat.

He said before surrendering to them, the Germans dumped a lot of stuff.

"They were reluctant," he said. "But eventually came in."

Okabayashi spent about 21/2 years in the Army before returning home Dec. 31, 1945. It was New Year's Eve when he got to Houston, where his family greeted him, he said.

It didn't take long for him to find work. He trucked for his family's vegetable farm before moving on to be a union brick layer.

He spent the next 45 years as a mechanic, retiring about two years ago.

Today, Okabayashi revels in the time he spends with his four children, four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren (with one on the way).

He bowls twice a week and travels to Louisiana to gamble often.

"He's quiet, humble man," Cole said. "And he seems to be recalling more and more stories as time goes by that he tells his children and grandchildren."